Wine: Five great summer rosés

So, what are your favorite wines right now? Each day, I get asked this question more often than my son asks for treats. And trust me, he really likes to ask for treats.

In wine circles, rosé will always reign supreme (even more than riesling). Sommeliers and wine writers fall at the mercy of a well-made pink wine, with its soft, enchanting watercolor hue and artistic balance of fruit and acid. I sip fine rosé year-round and would wear it as perfume if I could.

Here are five particularly mouthwatering wines that are perfect for summer sipping.

The rose wines of France can range in color from pastel pink to coppery salmon to deep, vivid rose.
(Bob Fila/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

Goldeneye 2013 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley): This bone-dry rosé, made with grapes from the finest blocks of the Goldeneye estate vineyards, is bursting with an intense flavor that belies its soft, demure color. I got tons of pink grapefruit on the attack followed by Rainier cherries and an acid-driven, zippy texture. $28. www.goldeneyewinery.com.

Pine Ridge Vineyards 2013 Encantado Rosé (Napa Valley): Made using the saignée method, this predominantly cabernet sauvignon rosé has strawberry, raspberry and floral aromas that spring from the glass, along with watermelon and tangerine flavors. Racy and vibrant. $22. www.pineridgevineyards.com.

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Inman Family 2013 Endless Crush Rosé of Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): This pale and delicate rosé is addictively bright and refreshing with classic notes of strawberry and watermelon. It was made from the family's organically grown Olivet Grange fruit. $25. www.inmanfamilywines.com.

Mary Elke 2013 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley): The key to rosé is balance, and we bow at the feet of winemaker Matt Evans, who has crafted this not-too-light, not-too-sweet and delightfully tart and complex wine. It tastes like the best kind of juice to drink on a summer day. $20. www.elkevineyards.com.

Clendenen 2013 Mondeuse Rosé (Santa Maria Valley): Leave it to Au Bon Climat's Jim Clendenen to grow this obscure red grape found primarily in the Savoie region of France. Clendenen maintains a few rows of mondeuse in the Bien Nacido Vineyards, and it yields a tangy, crisp and refreshing rosé. Delicious. $15 at www.klwines.com.